Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the fifth meeting of the season (and 214th meeting overall) between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. It's their last meeting until next season, too. I'd say the season series is up for grabs, as each team has won twice - the road team always won - but the Flames needed overtime in both wins at Rexall. The Flames need a win to tie the season series in terms of points earned.

That's about as far as this game goes in terms of "significance."

Calgary has 63 points and 12 games left. Edmonton has 59 points and 11 games left. The gap can close considerably with an Edmonton win, while a Calgary win probably cements their draft placement.

THE HOME TEAM

It goes without saying that it's been a disappointing year in Edmonton. I don't think they spent time and money bringing in Dallas Eakins to lead the club to 29th place. The Oilers lost two nights ago to Buffalo, but have been playing solid lately, winning five of their last 10.

Viktor Fasth gets his first Battle of Alberta start. He was 2-0-0 with a shutout in two games against the Flames while with Anaheim.

The Oilers obviously have some skilled players (that top line, that second line) and are starting to figure out the "depth role player" riddle. That third line is actually pretty solid. But the defense is a bit dodgy, so you can figure out why they are in the general area that they are, standings-wise.

Oddly, Edmonton has the edge on Calgary on the power-play, the penalty kill and in five-on-five goal differential. How come Calgary's higher in the standings? Probably because Calgary's gotten some big contributions from their back-end (Giordano & Brodie, primarily) and some from their depth guys, while Edmonton remains top-heavy.

But if they can ever build something around that top group, wowzers. Granted, we've been saying this for years, but the Oilers could be scary-good if the guys building the team had a plan besides "draft high."

THE ROAD TEAM

The Flames are smarting a bit after last night. On one hand, they scored five goals! On the other, they gave up six. To Nashville, who rarely scores. Yikes.

Karri Ramo returns after being out since before the Olympics with an MCL sprain. Joni Ortio returns to the AHL and Joey MacDonald is the back-up for the rest of the year.

Now that they're getting healthy, the Flames are rapidly beginning to resemble an NHL team. Kenny Agostino makes his Battle of Alberta debut after making his NHL debut last night, playing 12:40 in the loss to the Preds. Returning to the line-up is Kevin Westgarth - slotting in for T.J. Galiardi on the bottom line - and God, I hope Westgarth doesn't try to fight Gazdic again.

The Flames have also won five of their last ten games, so they're about as "hot" as the Edmonton Oilers right now.

SUM IT UP

It's a late-season game between two teams that are well out of the playoff picture! The best each club can hope for some emotion in this tilt, as each group tries to gain some momentum to close out the year.

Let's hope that this time next season, these games have a little bit more significance in the standings, because hockey's better when the Flames and Oilers are both doing well and Alberta is a place visiting teams fear to tread.

Ryan Pike has covered the Calgary Flames since 2010. A Calgary native who writes for FlamesNation and The Hockey Writers, he's often at Flames games and practices, just trying to capture the spirit of the thing. Ask him about his Corsi.

"If he's not allowed, then how are other tough guys in the league doing it?"

Are you... Are you serious? You really can't read, can you? I already explained the reason why he can't. The grandfather visor rule that was just put in place? The rule that says any player new to the league in 13/14 has to wear a visor? The fact that Gazdic WAS NEW TO THE LEAGUE IN 2013?

Here,let me give you bullet points, it's easier to digest:

-NHL/NHLPA agree any player entering the league in 13/14 and beyond must wear a visor

-Gazdic enters the league in 13/14

-Gazdic must wear a visor

Got it? I don't usually get mad at people on the internet, but the thought of you actually reproducing kind of pisses me off.

He is speaking of the practice where each fighter takes off their helmet at the same time prior to fighting. However, I don't agree that Gazdic is obligated to remove his helmet in order to be in compliance with "the code". Another good example of Don Cherry being a moron.

Katz doesnt run the oilers like a normal business. Its a hobby. A toy thing. Its common knowledge that Katz has been buds with KLowe for years. Success will never start from the top down when you cant fire your buddy.

Call them what you want. They`re the same guys that handed your plethora of first-overall picks an a$$-whuppin tonight (in your own barn no less). Seriously, with fans like you that persistenly trump out the so-called glory years as a defense mechanism for all things hockey, I now get how Lowe and company repeatedly get away with incompetence.

So Stajan, Glencross, Hudler, Byron and Cammy are the new rebuilding for you guys..........26th place. pffffff

You guys can't let it go, huh? I was arguing with the guy because he kept saying Gazdic should take his visor off. He meant Gazdic should take his helmet off prior to fighting, I thought he meant Gazdic should remove the visor from his helmet and play without one, which he can't do. Shenanigans ensued.

Got it?

look who can't let it go! hahahaha

it's nobody else's fault that you made yourself look so stupid by insisting that he can't take his visor off, when everyone in the world new what he meant. Of course Gizdik can take it off. yes, the rules don't allow it, but the rules don't allow fighting either. are you really thiat bright, or just arguing cause your team is... well, you know...

For Gazdick, a giant of a man who is in his own right very tough, to start fights and then keep his helmet/visor on is pathetic. How are the other guys supposed to fight him??? As Cherry pointed out - guys CAN and DO take them off.

Any real hockey fan, regardless of the team they root for, would agree with Don Cherry on this one - very dishonorable... and we aren't talking one accidental event where the heat of the moment took over, we are talking of a huge man who is actively starting in or engaging in fights, who wears a shield every time.

You are going to defend that? if so, then you sir are the true example of blind homerism. of course, anyone who has had the painful opportunity of sharing a game day blog with you realizes this.

Even Wesgarth showed himself to be a real man, while Gazdick continued to show himself a tool. Just like his one supporter. (hint hint).

Interesting construct. My main problem is the first two lines. Think RNH/Backlund/Monahan fairly interchangeable, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Backlund best defensively & possession(?), Monahan best scorer(?), RNH best overall... Hudler probably better on 2nd line and two small wingers on 2nd line also an issue, especially with another "smallish" centre. Overall not a great mix even between the two teams together.

I would not consider Backlund interchangeable with Monohan at all - not this year anyways. Backlund has better point per game numbers and is doing it facing the toughest competition on the team. It's really been a break out year for him.

I would almost be inclined to swap Backlund and RNH, as Backlund & Hall can at least face the toughest competition and still drive play.

As far as Hudler - I could get on board with moving him to the second line and swapping Backs & RNH as discussed, then give that 2nd line sheltered minutes and let the Glencross/Stajan/Eberle line face tougher comp.

"Overall not a great mix even between the two teams together" - soooo.... what would you change?

Gazdic has to wear a visor. He's new in the league and falls under the visor grandfather rule.

you'll notice lotsa guys wear the straps loose enough that the helmets fall off or they take them off... Gazdick wears his so tight it's probably a two man job to get it off. can't you just be honest enough to admit what a bunch of sucker punchers the oilers are?

Obviously Drago you have never played competitive hockey. With 82 games it is hard to get up for certain games. You don't want to lose but a team like LA plays harder against SJ than Edmonton. It is reality

One cup was rough work so the flames contracted the oilers top 6 to suck it all out

Lol top six defense or forwards? We got a horrible team. Just wait till we hire Brent Sutter as bench boss to turn this team around. What a beautiful day that will be, a sutter coaching the oilers to glory....

Lol top six defense or forwards? We got a horrible team. Just wait till we hire Brent Sutter as bench boss to turn this team around. What a beautiful day that will be, a sutter coaching the oilers to glory....

Holy crap! This DOES sound like the Flames from 5 years ago. Too funny.

Yes a hearty congrats to you. Beating the 2nd worst team in the league could only make a true flames chump feel like a champ. We won the last cup more recently than you, and we'll be vying for the cup before you do again.

Going by possession stats, you've actually put together a significantly worse blueline than the Flames are playing tonight. I'd include Marincin before Ference.

Lol. I was waiting for that comment. I was thinking that in my head when putting everything down, but was wanting to make the Oil fans feel better about themselves, cuz I just don't get any pleasure out of slagging them anymore.

- Believe me when I say this, I hope to God the Oilers continue to invest in Gagner. Seriously, it is the best possible thing for all Flames fans everywhere that you continue to employ him.

- Sven is indeed not in the NHL, he is in the AHL where he is developing a solid NHL game in all three zones. I completely understand that allowing prospects to develop in the minors is foreign to you, let alone having them develop good defensive habits.

- Actually it was you who compared Hall to Monahan - and I agree that it is unfair comparison given age, draft position, etc. Maybe next time you'll make a more valid comparison.

- Yakupov will indeed bounce back (or rather, just get better, he's never been very good), once the Oilers trade him away for pennies on the $.

- As somebody already pointed out Monahan already has more goals in his rookie year than Gagner has ever scored in a full season. Please, keep him as your #2C, I'm begging you. While I'm at it, I'm writing a letter to Darryl Katz begging him to keep Kevin Lowe and Dallas Eakins forever.

So Yakupov has never been good huh?

I guess last years stats werent good, I guess that means by comparison Monohans are terrible.

I meant he would not have a visor if he didn't have to and if the fighters were allowed to remove their helmets he would(new rule is a penalty and linesmen jump in), what good would it do to have a loose chin strap for everything but fighting? Its not like you can loosen it just before the fight, you probably don't watch many Oiler games when they aren't playing Calgary, you are wrong about Luke.